Russian operator Vimpelcom could acquire Italian operator Wind and 51 percent of Orascom Telecom, both controlled by Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris, in a deal worth USD 6.5 billion in cash and shares, Russian paper Kommersant reported. This would give Sawiris and his associates 20-23 percent of Vimpelcom, according to an unnamed source close to the deal. Vimpelcom declined to comment. Vimpelcom's main shareholders, Telenor and Alfa Group, would see their stakes drop to 27 and 35 percent, from respectively 36.03 and 44.65 percent currently.
